2013 Champion Wins Boston Marathon Again

The field of 30,000 left Hopkinton on Monday morning

The runner who won the Boston Marathon in 2013 and donated his medal to the city after the deadly terrorist bombings has been crowned this year's men's winner.

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia held off countryman Yemane Adhane Tsegay for the victory, finishing with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 17 seconds. Wilson Chebet of Kenya finished third and American Dathan Ritzenhein took seventh. Last year's winner, Meb Keflezighi, finished eighth.

Desisa, 25, was considered the consensus favorite in this year's race. He won the 2013 Boston Marathon in 2 hours, 10 minutes, 22 seconds, but did not finish the race in 2014 after injuring his ankle. He later donated his first-place medal to the people of Boston to honor the dead and wounded from the finish-line bombing.

In the women's field, Caroline Rotich of Kenya finished first, with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, 55 seconds, edging out Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia in a sprint finish. Buzinesh Deba of Ethiopia finished third, and American Desiree Linden took fourth.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair division of the 2015 Boston Marathon, crossing the finish line around 10:47 a.m. He had finished fourth in 2013 and 2014. His official winning time was 1 hour, 29 minutes, 53 seconds.

American Tatyana McFadden won the women's wheelchair division for the third consecutive year, finishing in 1 hour, 52 minutes, 54 seconds.

The weather was cold and damp but the atmosphere festive at this year's marathon, two years after the race was defined by deadly bombings. All along the 26.2-mile course on Monday, spectators banged cowbells and blew air horns amid chilly weather and light rain.

Most of the runners, though, are not professional athletes who finished with elite times.

"Actually, I hate running," said Kirsten Phillips, who raised money for the Learning School Prep in Newton, Massachusetts. "And then it was something hard that I wanted to do."

Love it, like it, or even hate it, it was not easy spending six hours trudging along in the cold driving rain. And if that might not be the way you'd want to spend your Patriots' Day, this was "mission accomplished" for the first-time runner.

"I'm drenched, it feels spectacular," said Phillips.

Near the Boylston Street finish line, crowds roared each time an athlete approached, shouting words of encouragement.

Those who attended last year's race said Monday's atmosphere felt less intense and emotionally charged. Some were ready to move on and enjoy the sights and sounds of one of the city's most cherished events.

But throughout were reminders of the 2013 attacks, which killed three spectators and wounded more than 260 others. "Boston Strong" - the phrase that became the city's defiant rally cry after the attack - was everywhere.

Rebekah Gregory, a Texas survivor whose leg was amputated, was understandably emotional when she crossed the finish line.

Many ran in honor of the victims and survivors of the bombings.

"We congratulate Tatyana in defending her title in Boston and representing TeamMR8 for a second straight year," read a statement on behalf of Bill and Denise Richards, the parents of 8-year-old Martin Richards, who was killed in the attacks. "She is an inspiration to all runners, not just those with disabilities. We are honored to call her a friend.

Below are results from this year's marathon:

MEN'S RESULTS:

  1. Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 2:09:17
  2. Yemane Adhane Tsegay (ETH) 2:09:48
  3. Wilson Chebet (KEN) 2:10:22
  4. Bernard Kipyego (KEN) 2:10:47
  5. Wesley Korir (KEN) 2:10:49
  6. Frankline Chepkwony (KEN) 2:10:52
  7. Dathan Rizenhien (USA) 2:11:20
  8. Meb Keflezighi (USA) 2:12:42
  9. Tadese Tola (ETH) 2:13:35
  10. Vitaliy Shafar (UKR) 2:13:52

WOMEN'S RESULTS:

  1. Caroline Rotich (KEN) 2:24:55
  2. Mare Dibaba (ETH) 2:24:59
  3. Buzunesh Deba (ETH) 2:25:09
  4. Desiree Linden (USA) 2:25:39
  5. Sharon Cherop (KEN) 2:26:05
  6. Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:26:40
  7. Aberu Kebede (ETH) 2:26:52
  8. Shure Demise (ETH) 2:27:14
  9. Shalane Flanagan (USA) 2:27:47
  10. Joyce Chepkirui (KEN) 2:29:07

MEN'S WHEELCHAIR RESULTS:

  1. Marcel Hug (SUI) 1:29:53
  2. Masazumi Soejima (JPN) 1:36:27
  3. Ernst Van Dyk (RSA) 1:36:27
  4. Kota Hotinoue (JPN) 1:36:29
  5. Tomasz Hamerlak (POL) 1:38:14

WOMEN'S WHEELCHAIR RESULTS:

  1. Tatyana McFadden (USA) 1:52:54
  2. Wakako Tsuchida (JPN) 1:53:48
  3. Susannah Scaroni (USA) 1:57:21
  4. Amanda McGrory (USA) 1:57:21
  5. Sandra Graf (SUI) 1:59:18

[CLICK HERE for full results from the 2015 Boston Marathon.]

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